A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

for seeing that the Jews themselves with all their dignity were constrained to fly to the faith of Christ: how much more behoved it the Gentiles to get salvation by faith? The mind of Paul than is thus, We which seem to excel other, which have been through the benefit of his covenant always nigh God; have never the later found no reason or mean to get salvation, but uy believing in Christ; why than should we prescribe any other mean unto the Gentiles? For if the Law were necessary, or else could prevail the followers thereof unto salvation: it would most of all have prevailed us, unto whom it was given. and if so be that we have left it and are gone unto Christ, much less are the gentiles to be urged to take it upon them. The word Sinner doth signify here, as it doth often in other places, unholy or lost and estranged from God. such were the Gentiles, who had no fellowship with God: but the Jews were by adoption the Children of God, and therefore segregate or set apart into holiness. Whereas he saith▪ by nature, he doth not mean that they are by nature free from the corruption of mankind: for David who descended by lineage from Abraham, confesseth that he was begot ⟨p. 41⟩of unclean seed. Psa. 51.7. but the remedy of grace wherewith they were sanctified, did suppress the corruption of nature to which they were in danger. And because the promise made the blessing an inheritance, therefore it is called a good thing, natural or by nature. So to the Romans, Chap. 11. ver. 16. he saith they were sprung out of an holy root. Therefore when he saith, We are by nature Jews, is as much as if he should say, We are borne holy not by our own desert, but because we are chosen of God to be his people. We than which by nature were Jews, what have we done? we have believed in Christ. To what end have we believed? that by the faith of Christ we might be justified. For what cause? Because we were convinced and put out of doubt that men could not obtain righteousness by the works of the Law. He than reasoneth after the nature and effect of faith, that the Jews are not justified by the Law. For as they who would establish their own righteousness of works are not subject to the righteousness of GOD, Rom. 10.3.

for seing that the Iewes themselues with all their dignitie were constrained to flie to the faithe of Christ: howe muche more behoued it the Gentils to get saluation by faith? The mind of Paule than is thus, We which seme to excell other, which haue bine through the benifite of his couenaunt alwayes nighe God; haue neuer the later founde no reason or meane to get saluation, but vy beleuing in Christ; why than should we prescribe any other meane vnto the Gentils? For if the Lawe were necessarie, or els could preuaile the folowers thereof vnto saluation: it would moste of all haue preuailed vs, vnto whome it was giuen. and if so be that we haue left it and are gone vnto Christ, much lesse are the gentils to be vrged to take it vppon thē. The word Sinner doth signifie here, as it doth often in other places, vnholye or lost and estraunged from God. such were the Gentils, who had no fellowship with God: but the Iewes were by adoption the Children of God, and therefore segregate or set apart into holynesse. Whereas he sayth by nature, hee doth not meane that they are by nature free from the corruption of mankinde: for Dauid who discended by lineage from Abraham, confesseth that he was begotte